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L. Leo Judice Elementary school students saddle up for Charlie's Reading Rodeo

Students at L. Leo Judice Elementary in Scott donned their boots, cowboy hats and the sheriff badges they earned for meeting their reading goals for the first nine weeks of school for the Reading Rodeo Friday.

Each year the school celebrates with a day of fun and games in the Wild West, and 96 percent of the 370 elementary students met their Accelerated Reader goal and attended, librarian Lisa Labarraque said.

"Reading is the foundation of all other core academic areas," Principal Mia Lemaire said. "Having these AR Celebrations each nine weeks allows us to positively promote students' reading achievements. The students and their families understand the important role that reading plays in student success."

There's face painting, dancing at the Howdy Hoedown, stick horses and all the boots and bandannas you can handle thanks to school staff and parent volunteers.

"The parents who volunteer also have such a good time," said volunteer Megan Huval, who has a fourth-grader at the school. "To me it means the world that Lisa (Labarraque) invest so much into our children's reading.

"In a world where reading is dwindling she makes it such a big deal. It truly motivates the students to do their best."

Labarraque's dog Charlie is the "host" of Charlie’s Reading Rodeo as the reading motivator at L. Leo Judice. It is the dachshund's 11th year coming to the library.

"He has several costumes to change into," the librarian said.

He also hosts Read with Santa Paws, Sir Charles & the Knights of L. Leo, and Capt. Charlie Sparrow & the Pirates of L. Leo.